Keeping Migraines At Bay

Migraines continue to play a huge part in the lives of many people. In fact, migraines are known to affect one in seven people in the UK and they are not always that easy to treat. If migraines are a problem for you, read on for information on the causes, symptoms and treatments for a migraine and how to prevent them in the future.

Migraines: What are they?

Despite what the majority of people may think, a migraine is not simply a severe headache. They can actually have a whole range of negative effects, although the head is the area where the most acute pain will be experienced. In fact, having a migraine is often accompanied by symtoms such as vomitting, experiencing tingling sensations in the arms and legs, seeing bright lights, having ‘blind spots’ and being unusually sensitive to loud noise or light.

The World Health Organisation classify migraines as among the most debilitating illnesses anyone can experience. They consider migraines to be comparable with illnesses such as active psychosis, quadriplegia and dementia. Furthermore, migraines are heavily linked with depression — especially among women — which specialists say is down to the fact that the illness is so difficult to diagnose (indeed, medical experts admit they are unsure about what causes migraine). In fact, less than half the people who experience migraines seek medical assistance, while out of those who do, the migraine remains undiagnosed for 50% of them. Failure to diagnose an ongoing problem such as this can lead to other problems, so seeking advice from one of the medical negligence solicitors in Leeds can offer might be a sensible option.

The most likely sufferers.

As noted above, migraines tend to affect women far more than men. While an equal number of men do experience migraines early in life, they generally grow out of them, while women continue to suffer from them for the remainder of their lives, although the problem is known to lessen to a certain extent after the menopause. Many specialists conclude that migraines are largely hereditory — the problem is, unfortunately, in the genes.

Treatments.

Fortunately, there are a number of steps that can be taken that will at least alleviate the problem. The vital factor here is developing the ability to identify a migraine when it is in its initial stages. Specialists note that catching a migraine early gives the sufferer a great chance of avoiding the most severe symptoms. Should you feel a migraine coming on, take an analgesia such as paracetamol or aspirin — preferably with a drug such as domperidone — find a quiet, comfortable place to sit and take a rest.

Feed the problem.

While eating may be the last thing you want to do when a migraine comes on, having a quick snack — preferably something that will be easier to keep down — will go a long way to making you feel better. Indeed, starving yourself or having irregular eating habits are major contributary factors in bringing on a migraine, as is a lack of exercise and allowing stress build up. Therefore, try to eat better and more regularly, commit to a regular exercise programme and try and control your stress levels.